Hershey suspends US flavored milk shipments to China

Shipments of Hershey’s brand flavored milk to China have been suspended after a consignment found to contain unapproved ingredients was destroyed.

In a statement, Pennsylvania-based chocolate giant Hershey confirmed reports that a shipment of Hershey’s flavored milk, manufactured under license by Utah-based Gossner Foods, was refused entry into China in June 2014 by customs officials in Guangdong.

The shipment of Hershey’s Strawberry Milk and Hershey’s White Chocolate Milk was held by Chinese officials after it was discovered that the products contain stevia and a food coloring called Red 40.

While “permitted in other foods and certain beverages in China” Red 40 and stevia are seemingly not approved for use in milk.

Shanghai Daily reported that the 4.5 tonne shipment had been destroyed by customs officials in Guangdong.

In response to the Chinese customs action, the Hershey Company has suspended all shipments from the US to China of Hershey brand products manufactured by “authorized US licensee” Gossner Foods.

“All shipments of Hershey-branded products from the United States to China from this licensee have been suspended,” said the Hershey statement.